Benchspace is a co making space based in Cork City, due to the Covid 19 crisis we've had to close down the workshop to the public and the majority of our makers.

We do however have a number of 3D printers and an 80w laser cutter. We decided to put this equipment to use creating Face Shields for Front Line Workers.

To stop a potential bottleneck we also put out a call for home based 3D printer owners to help us in creating these masks. In less than 48 hours over 35 people signed up to help.

We've spend the last week establishing protocols, trialling various designs with healthcare professionals and establishing a distribution plan. We have committed to providing the masks free of charge to a number of major hospitals and elderly care institutions

We estimate we can produce over 2400 face masks a week to distribute but material and distribution costs will be in excess of €6000 a week (€2.50 per mask).

Our goal is to get 10,000 masks into the hands of health workers over the next 4 weeks.